Ted Poyser Lecture in Soil Health

Dr. Melissa Arcand, Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan

First Nations across the prairies promised to share the land to a depth of the plough as part of the Treaties signed with the Crown in the 1870s. Since then, the agricultural promises outlined in the Treaties were not realized for First Nations, while the agricultural industry flourished across western Canada. Despite the historical marginalization of First Nations from the agricultural sector, First Nations in the prairies have a strong relationship to agriculture, primarily through relationships with local farmers who currently lease First Nations reserve land. A strong foundation in the soil sciences and agronomy is therefore important for First Nations land managers who are managing large swaths of agricultural land, yet Indigenous students are underrepresented in these disciplines. Dr. Arcand will highlight on-going projects that are aimed to increase access to soil science and agriculture training designed for First Nations audiences. They are partnering with First Nations across the prairies to establish soil health learning circles to share knowledge on soil health and beneficial management practices that respect Indigenous values and incorporate Indigenous knowledge to foster soil health, biodiversity, and resiliency to climate change for First Nations agroecosystems.

Dr. Melissa Arcand is an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan and is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6. She researches soil health, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling in agroecosystems. Her more recent interdisciplinary research focuses on Indigenous agriculture in the Prairies and included hosting a SSHRC Connections Grant-funded Forum on Indigenous Agriculture in Saskatchewan and collaborating with First Nations’ lands departments to assess soils on agricultural lands through projects funded through the New Frontiers in Research Fund – Explorations Grant and the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Agricultural Climate Solutions Living Labs. Her team is developing and delivering outreach activities in soil health and agricultural beneficial management practices to First Nations through a Weston Family Foundation Soil Health Initiative project. In addition to her research and service work, she teaches and is the academic advisor for students in the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy ("Let us take care of the land" in Plains Cree) Indigenous land and resource management certificate program and is the Academic Lead for the kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.